FRYING FUME ARRESTER

Abstract: This invention concerns a device for guiding and collecting carcinogenic particles when frying foods, such as meat. The invention solves this problem by means of a device fitted with a cover and supports/spacers is placed over the heating vessel. This device then guides the carcinogenic frying fumes away from the user and in towards the kitchen fan. The device thereby also prevents fat splashing out towards the user and kitchen/room.

Description: FRYING FUME ARRESTER This invention concerns a device for controlling and collecting carcinogenic particles when frying food such as meat. According to research reports from various parts of the world, including two independent reports from the Work Environment Fund's research reports: 'Kraft og stegeos' (Cancer and frying fumes) 1986 and 'Mutagener i stegeos' (Mutagens in frying fumes) 1988 in Denmark. These reports indicate that restaurant cooks die of lung cancer more often than any other occupational group. According to the research reports, the chefs breathe in large doses of carcinogenic fumes that are generated when meat is fried. It has also been noted that women have passed men in the numbers of deaths due to lung cancer. This may be due in part to women starting to smoke more than was common earlier. But as women are usually responsible for preparing food in the home, the frying fumes they inhale may also contribute to the large increase in the numbers dying of lung cancer. The purpose of this invention is to achieve a design that guides frying fumes so that they do not reach the respiratory organs. Restaurant kitchens and most dwellings/flats have fans above cookers to draw up frying fumes. As frying in a frying pan is usually done at the front, on one of the cooker's hot plates, the fan is only able to draw up a small amount of the frying fumes, the remainder spread to the respiratory organs and out into the kitchen. The same thing applies to the large frying plates used in restaurant kitchens, where the capacity of the fan is often low or not correctly sized. Tests and measurements have been performed in which one can clearly see and measure the quantity of carcinogenic fumes and frying fat that can be arrested and/or steered away using this invention. Figures 1 and 2 show diagrammatically the shape of the frying fume path with and without the frying fume arrester respectively. The construction of this invention may take various different forms and achieve good results (Figure series 4). The preferred design is that shown in Figure 5, which consists basically of a cover. Using this device the frying fumes are steered towards the fan, across the cooker and are there prevented from entering the respiratory organs (Fig. 3). A certain amount of the frying fumes fasten in the device. The device (Fig. 5) is designed with an opening (1) where the frying fumes are steered out, this opening must point in towards the fan. Further, there is a gap (2) between the cover (3) and heating vessel (4), which runs round the whole device, except where the supports/spacers (5) are located. The function of the supports/spacers (5) is to achieve a gap (2) between the device and the heating vessel (4) (Fig. 6) or between the cover (3) and the frying table (6)(Fig. 7). The supports/spacers (5) for use with a vessel also perform the function of ensuring that the device fits different sizes of vessel, the diameter varies. The size of the gap (2) varies with the size of the heating vessel, the size of the gap increases with decreasing size of vessel. The gap (2) (Fig. 6 and Fig. 7) provides a current of air due to the suction from the fan being drawn in from the space outside the cover (3) and then entrains with it the frying fumes that are then steered together out through the opening (1) towards the fan. As hot air rises, the frying fumes area forced out through the large opening (1) and, thus, no frying fumes come out through the gap (2). As the device is equipped with a large opening and a gap this avoids cooking the food instead of frying it. The frying surfaces become perfect. For simple handling of the device there is a handle (7) on the cover (3). The design of the handle (7) may vary. The material from which the cover (3) and unloading device (5) are made shall be heat resistant. Materials that are suited to the purpose may include glass, metal, ceramic, or plastic. The curved shape of the cover (3) and its lack of corners that are difficult to reach makes the device easy to clean by hand or in a machine. The device can also be made so that it need not be cleaned after each use. The device (Fig. 8) consists of a system of stays (8) on which a guiding surface (9) is attached, such as baking paper or other suitable material. After use the guiding surface is discarded. A look at earlier patent texts concerning the collection and control of frying fumes indicates, Swedish patent text No. 310 051, 'Lock for stekpannor och grytor' (Cover for frying pans and pots). Here is presented a device which, by means of a cover together with a suction device performs the work of leading away frying fumes. The suction effect is provided by a suction fan connected to the cover by means of a hose. The cover has a large opening that is directed towards the user. The object of the opening is to permit air to enter under the cover and for the user to gain access to the food. Through this opening fat splashes out towards the user and out into the room/kitchen. Another patent text, US pat. No. 4 019 497, Frying Pan Grease, describes a cover that is placed over the frying pan to arrest fat that splashes out of the pan. When this device is placed over the pan, the opening faces towards the user, to be able to handle the frying pan/handle. This location guides the carcinogenic frying fumes that rise towards the user and his respiratory organs. 75 If the device, the frying fume arrestor, is compared with the patent texts mentioned above, the frying fume arrester performs the task of both guiding away the carcinogenic frying fumes towards the kitchen fan, while preventing fat from splashing out towards the user and the kitchen/room. The frying fume arrester is also more user friendly than the device called 'Lock for stelφannor och grytor' (Cover for frying pans 80 and pots).

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1. Device for use for with cooking vessels, preferably frying pans, frying tables and suchlike, intended as a lid in the form of a cover (3) with an opening (1) for guiding frying fumes, for example, in a direction away from the person preparing the food, characterized in that the lid (3) is equipped with supports/spacers (5) to keep the lid at such a distance from the heating device (4,6) that a gap (2) is formed between the edge of the lid (3) and the edge of the frying pan or suchlike or frying table respectively for air to flow through, which flow of air entrains with it steam, fumes, splashes, etc., unhealthy products from the frying process continue out through the opening (1) and on to a cooker hood to be removed from the premises in which the food is being prepared, or in any case so as to eliminate any risk of the person preparing the food being able to breathe in the products mentioned. 2. Device in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in that the supports/spacers consist of tongues (5) hinged at the edge of the lid (3) that can be swung between two positions, one basically horizontal position for using the lid (3) with frying pans and suchlike (Fig. 6) and one basically vertical position (Fig. 7) for using the lid on frying tables. 3. Device in accordance with Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the tongue-like supports/spacers (5) are wave formed so as, in conjunction with the edge of the frying pan (4), to keep the lid (3) in a stable position (Fig. 6). 4. Device in accordance with any of the previous claims, characterized in that the supports/spacers (5) consist of plastic, glass or metal.

Inventors: ZEIDLER MAJA, ZEIDLER, MAJA
Applicants: ZEIDLER MAJA, ZEIDLER, MAJA
Application year: 1994
Main classification: A47J36
IPC codes: A47J37